LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – The Southern Nevada Health District has identified the first known case of coronavirus variant B.1.617.2 in Clark County.
The variant B.1.617.2 was first identified in India and is considered a worrying variant.
The variant was detected locally in a sample tested by the Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory. As part of an ongoing surveillance effort, the Public Health Laboratory is sequencing to detect any variants that may be floating around in Clark County.
The Clark County resident who tested positive for variant B.1.617.2 is a woman in her twenties. She has not reported any recent trips, has not been hospitalized, and has not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
A contact investigation is carried out.
“We have taken tremendous steps to stop the pandemic in our community,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, the district health officer for the Southern Nevada Health District.
“However, identifying another variant of COVID-19 is a reminder that while many of us may be fully vaccinated and enjoy activities with family and friends again, the pandemic is not over and we must continue to take action to help ourselves and others protect people. ”
New variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 are spreading in the United States.
Current data suggests that currently approved COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against most variants.
So far, the following variants have been found in Clark County: 242 cases of B.1.1.7; five cases of B.1351; five cases of B.1.429; and 28 cases from P.1.
The health district continues to recommend that all eligible persons get vaccinated. The vaccine is safe, effective, and free.
By May 10, 933,885 doses of COVID-19 had been initiated, 713,962 doses completed, and a total of 1,586,045 doses of COVID-19 had been administered in Clark County.
Appointments at the Health District and Community Partners vaccination clinics are available at snhd.info/covid-vaccine. You can also find more information about the clinic online at NVCOVIDFighter.org.
